San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-12-08
NO
NO 81.
THE PILGRIMS rHANksoN,sa.
How II We. os.srvss y D''sss,s. /,


THE PILGRIMS THANkeoNNo.
How II Was Observed BY Direcsien e
oovcrnor Bradford.
The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Ply
mouth, as We all know, on Monday, Dec
Under favorable auspices the frst har-
vess was gathered. With hearts Of Joy
they secured the bountiful crop.o OF Indian
corn which had ripeued In the fierce heats
OK August and the warm haze Of Septem-
Der. Az they looked on the heafed up
stores--the first fruits Of their. ton IN the
new land-thcr hearts swelled with
thankfulness that che Lord had 20 merci-
fully cared for them, and that, though
sorely smitten with pcstilence, they wero
now blessed with health, peace and frce-
dom from the dread Of famine. -'
Mindful Of the Providence 10 whom
those blessings were due those stern, bold
mon were very devotionaD, Governor
Bradford proclaimed a solemn Thanksoriy-
ing feast, and ordered that preparations
should be made for celebrating it with
such festivities rs were in their power.
Four men were dispatched into the woods
to shoot wild fowl, and though the pnrna
bad been scanty throughout the summer,
che quartet OF sportsmen returned at night
staggering under their burden Of turkeys,
geese and pigeons sufficient TO provision
the entire settlement for o whole week.
There was rare labor done by the rootl
Puritan DANES, plucking and dressing the
game, pounding corn and baking Il, get
ting out and polishing the tin and pewter
table services brought from England and
Holland, and scrubbing the wooden
trenchers that served the poorer pilgrims
In lieu of tin or pewter. 49,
The roar Of one Of the great guns ON the
hill top announced the commencement Of
Thanksgiving. It was Thursday, Oct. "A.
little less than ono year after their ar
rival In Cape Cod bay. In the different
dwellings and over fires lit in the open air
began the work Of roasting and boiling.
When all had assembled the sergeant
stepped forward, and the men, three
abreast, with firearms shouldered.
marched orderly and silently toward the
meeting house. Behind came Governor
Bradford in his long robe Of office, walk
ing Rr8vely, as beftted o governor. On
his right hand walked the venerable Ed
er Brewster In his preachers cloak, bear
ing the Bible reverentIy In hts hands. On
the governors left was the military chief
Of the colony, Miles Standish, his heavy
armor laid aside for short cloak. his
trusty sword at his side, and q small cane
In his hand as mark OF Office. Proudly
he watched the firm tread, sturdy frames
and serviceable weapons OF the little troop
before him, and was half regretful TINT
among the subjects for the days thanks-
giving was the blessing Of peace with all
the tribes about them. It was also pity
ou,u - .bootira via sos,S 80 do'hsSsss ~ useu
ha tborcIt. sor tta t,,rd,, ,,tt,s :. .,t.s.s
,vos ne Ls Ina so,5 a ,,,c,, - ,rar s III -
whnae thirtv.savan vaara hod hca, on s,sa,,t -
In knockinc ahont tha world os = saiT,a. LiNas
~ fort,,no
T,ha sar,,on ~ rldar rv.v.,st.~ .,,,s -.
nronriafa to tbe occosIon Mauar : ,'pos ~ ~ 4.
trnw,, 20 rrooch : hotta- d,s,,',,,'o =, -. -
shortar ona thorgl, n ,vo,,II I,o t,'S,s,s,'t
Iono enouyh now norticnlarlv 20 ths
etsen ~ roaatinn Malea ,,,ss go1i-,,e.,s
ticriad tha rostriia 20 ,,,esehar spn,0 srd re,'
oragation no n IA tbe,,, '''-N VIZ
r. woa ThonE.rivine, a,,,ror .nd =.
p,istaLa ahont a. 10 he s,,ra tho ".,s, tahis. =.
were NJ tho rndest ana thara ~ svos . ~
mucb d,aniov nor wera th"ra tha ,,,e,.,s
Httla daIicacie. th.t car astsr ha so,,rS
now nm Thonlaoivino taI,Ias mt the
tnrkev was there in ali he c,cyv -
drowned slir rich orav,as aud ,asot.hS.
atnf,irr ond .ae, r,era ,,,,,,,,,.,. - sstss..
hirda oraat nnd ANAL roastad e,,S ,','lIsS
and bated over tba sr,hers T,hav. ..,.s
corn brand and ho,,,nv a., rrdS,rns
and several LITTLE nictnacts srch ~ stiiI5'J
housewivaa sould make nm ~ the ,,,ata-
qlsls ~ bonN Nor ,rare X tah,s. ssss
'>''s'
kether wanting In display. Some families
bad brought a few household relics from
.heir English homes, and these were set
out to do honor to the day of rejoicing.
The dinner over the pilgrims turned to
the homes they had left. AS the day
closed and darkness came creeping In
from the pine woods around Plymouth,
the settlers trod once more, in fancy, the
green lanes Of England or the busy streets
OF Leyden. They sang the psalms and
songs that had been sung around their
English firesides, and mingled memories
OF the past with thankfulness for the pres
ent and hone for the future.
Harki An Indian shout. followed by
n challenge from one of the guard. A
ebarp rattle OF A drum. and every man
rrasped his flrelock and rushed out in
alarm. Nearly hundred sayages were
mourning into the village with shouts and
cries. But there was no occasion for
alarm. IL was Massasoit and his braves
coming in TO thank the white men for
their assistance and 70 share their fcstiyi,
ties. They brought with them five deer
and a good supply OF other game, as their
10 the feast.
So the tbanksQiyipg feasting was con-
tiuued another day. BY daybreak the fires
were aQain set going and the work of
"'...' h-,'s,s,,s a,,d hosfiro was ~
sumed. This time yenison was added to
he t,,rkev
xvhuo ,ho so..t .v.s ,rer,ring the In
".o ~ I[L-- c.--.,e.-..